Modular desk assembly having collapsible frame

ABSTRACT

A modular desk assembly is disclosed of the kind commonly used in a home or office. The desk assembly includes front and second end desk sections and a mid desk section located between the end desk sections. Each of the first and second end desk sections includes a frame that is adapted to be moved between expanded and collapsed frame configurations. The mid desk section includes a frame that is coupled between and suspended from the frames of the first and second end desk sections. A lift-off top is detachably connected to a set of legs from each of the first and second end desk sections. A lift-off top is seated upon the frame of the mid desk section so as to lie between the lift-off tops of the first and second end desk sections. The desk assembly can be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled without using tools and with a minimum of manpower.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a modular desk assembly of the kind commonly used in a home or office that is adapted to be quickly and easily assembled and disassembled without the use of tools and with a minimum of manpower. The modular desk assembly includes a pair of desk sections, each of which has a lift-off top and collapsible frame by which to facilitate storage and transport in compact shipping containers.

2. Background Art

It is known for articles that are to be used in the home and office to be shipped to retailers and delivered to consumers in an unassembled condition in a shipping container. Because of its large size, correspondingly heavy weight and complexity, it is not always practical to ship a desk to the retailer or consumer in a disassembled condition. These characteristics are particularly true when the desk has a plurality of desk sections that are to be interconnected with one another (e.g., in an L-shaped desk configuration). Where a desk has been shipped unassembled, the consumer is often required to use special skill, provide sufficient manpower, and have ready access to tools by which fasteners are inserted to connect the desk parts together.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to have a modular desk assembly that can be shipped to retailers and carried to the home of a consumer in a disassembled condition within a series of compact shipping containers so as to be efficiently transported and quickly and easily assembled with a minimum of manpower and without the use of special tools and/or skill.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 show perspective views of a modular desk according to a preferred embodiment of this invention with the desk fully assembled and ready to use;

FIG. 3 illustrates details of one desk end section of the modular desk of FIGS. 1 and 2 having a lift-off top and a collapsible frame;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the desk end section of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the desk end section of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 6-8 illustrate details of the lift-off top of the desk end section of FIG. 3 detachably connected to hollow legs thereof;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the collapsible frame of the desk end section of FIG. 3 in an expanded frame configuration;

FIG. 10 is a top view of the collapsible frame of FIG. 9 in a collapsed frame configuration;

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a clip to be removably attached between end panels of the collapsible frame of FIG. 9 to retain the frame in the expanded frame configuration; and

FIGS. 13-15 illustrate details of a desk mid section of the modular desk of FIGS. 1 and 2 to be detachably connected between a pair of desk end sections.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, there is shown a modular desk 1 according to a preferred embodiment of this invention that is particularly adapted to facilitate an efficient storage and convenient transport in relatively compact shipping containers. Moreover, and as will soon be disclosed, the desk 1 may be quickly and easily assembled by a user without the aid of tools and with a minimum of outside assistance. To this end, the modular desk 1 includes a plurality of desk sections having collapsible frames and modular drawers which are slidably and removably attached to guide rails of the collapsible frames from different ones of the desk sections.

The modular desk 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is illustrated in the fully assembled, ready-to-use configuration with the collapsible frames in an expanded configuration. In the present example, the desk 1 includes the interconnection of a first desk end section 3, an opposite second desk end section 5, and a desk mid section 7 located therebetween such that the end sections 3 and 5 of desk 1 are disposed in generally perpendicular alignment to establish an L-shaped desk configuration. However, it is to be understood that the advantages of this invention also extend to simply a desk consisting of a single desk section, as opposed to the multiple desk sections to which reference was made above.

Independent lift-off tops 9, 10 and 11 of modular desk I are supported on respective frames of the desk sections 3, 5 and 7 in a manner that will be described in greater detail hereinafter. In the assembled desk configuration, each lift-off top 9-11 is seated upon and supported by plastic or rubber covered studs 12 (best shown in FIG. 2) that project upwardly from the frames of desk sections 3, 5 and 7. In the example of FIGS. 1 and 2, the lift-off tops 9 and 10 of the opposing desk end sections 3 and 5 are rectangular in shape, while the lift-off top 11 of the desk mid section 7 is fan or arc shaped to maximize the size of the desk and complete the perpendicular alignment of end sections 3 and 5. In this regard, to enhance the modular nature of the desk 1 herein disclosed, the opposing desk end sections 3 and 5 and their respective lift-off tops 9 and 10 may be identical to and interchangeable with one another.

FIGS. 3-5 of the drawings illustrate details of one (e.g., 5) of the interchangeable end sections 3 and 5 of the modular desk 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Desk end section 5 is shown with a collapsible frame 16. The collapsible frame 16 includes a set of (e.g., four) corner legs 18. Each corner leg 18 is hollow to enable the lift-off top 10 of desk section 5 to be detachably connected to frame 16 in a manner to be described while referring to FIGS. 6-8.

Briefly, however, lift-off top 10 includes a corresponding set of (e.g., four) locking pin bodies 20 projecting downwardly from the corners thereof. Each pin body 20 has a spring-loaded locking pin (designated 40 and best shown in FIG. 7) slidable laterally therethrough. In the example of FIGS. 3-5, the hollow legs 18 of collapsible frame 16 and the locking pin bodies 20 of lift-off top 10 have a generally oval configuration. In the assembled desk configuration of FIGS. 4 and 5, the set of pin bodies 20 are sized and shaped to be received downwardly and inwardly by respective ones of the set of hollow legs 18. As will be described when referring to FIGS. 6-8, the slidable locking pins 40 of spring bodies 20 function to releasably retain pin bodies 20 within legs 18 to thereby detachably connect lift-off top 10 to the frame 16 of desk end section 5.

The collapsible frame 16 has sets of front and rear guide rails extending laterally across the desk end section 5 between an opposing pair of legs 18. The number in each set of front and rear guide rails is chosen primarily for aesthetic purposes and forms no part of the present invention. In the example of FIGS. 3 and 5, frame 16 includes a single front guide rail 22 and three rear guide rails 24 that are spaced one of the other. The front and rear guide rails 22 and 24 provide tracks upon which to receive and position a removable modular drawer 26.

The modular drawer 26 may have any suitable dimensions and contain any suitable number of storage compartments. In the example shown in FIGS. 3-5, the modular drawer 26 is relatively tall and wide with two storage compartments. However, by virtue of the modular nature of the desk 1 herein disclosed, the drawer 26 can be easily removed and replaced by a different modular drawer, such as that designated 28 in FIGS. 1 and 2 having a relatively narrow and long shape with a single storage compartment.

In each case, the modular drawer includes pairs of front and rear suspension hooks 29 and 30 projecting outwardly and in opposite directions from the top thereof. In the assembled desk configuration as shown in FIG. 4, the modular drawer 26 is carried to the desk section 5 to be hung from frame 16 by positioning the front and rear pairs of suspension hooks 29 and 30 over the front guide rail 22 and the uppermost one of the rear guide rails 24. The suspension hooks 29 and 30 can slide along the guide rails 22 and 24 to enable the modular drawer 26 to be positioned laterally to meet the needs of the user. Moreover, while only a single drawer 26 is shown hanging from one side of the frame 16 of the desk end section 5 of FIGS. 3-5, identical or different drawers (e.g., 28) can also be carrier to and hung from the opposite side of frame 16.

The collapsible frame 16 of desk end section 5 includes a pair of fold-up panels 32 and 34 at each end. As will be explained in greater detail when referring to FIGS. 9-12, each pair of fold-up end panels 32 and 34 are pivotally connected to one another by means of a hinge 35 so as to enable the collapsible frame 16 to be converted from an expanded frame configuration (as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4), when the modular desk 1 and the desk section 5 thereof are to be assembled, to a collapsed frame configuration (as shown in FIG. 10), when the modular desk 1 is to be disassembled for storage or transport.

To retain the collapsible frame 16 in the expanded frame configuration, and as will be explained in greater detail when referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, a special purpose rigid clip 36 having a pair of fold-over tabs 38 is positioned over and between each pair of fold-up panels 32 and 34 at each end of frame 16 so that the fold-over tabs 38 lie at opposite sides of the hinge 36. The rigid nature of clip 36 locks the collapsible frame 16 in the expanded frame configuration, as shown, with each pair of end panels 32 and 34 held in end-to-end alignment with one another. That is, each clip 36 blocks a pair of fold-up end panels 32 and 34 from rotating relative to one another at hinge 35, whereby to prevent frame 16 from inadvertently folding inwardly towards the collapsed frame configuration in response to an inward pushing force applied thereto.

FIGS. 6-8 of the drawings show the manner in which the lift-off top 10 of the desk end section 5 (of FIG. 3) of modular desk 1 is detachably connected to the collapsible frame 16 at the hollow legs 18 thereof. Although the forthcoming description relates specifically to the lift-off top 10, the same description is also applicable to the lift-off top 9 of desk section 3.

As was earlier disclosed, a set of locking pin bodies 20 and opposing hollow legs 18 are sized and shaped such that the pin bodies 20 are received within respective legs 18. Each locking pin body 20 which is carried below a corner of the desk top 10 has a spring loaded locking pin 40 that is slidable laterally therethrough. In FIGS. 6 and 8, with pin body 20 located inwardly of an opposing hollow leg 18, the locking pin 40 is urged outwardly from pin body 20 and through an axially aligned pin receiving hole 42 (as shown in FIG. 7) formed in leg 40. The receipt of locking pin 40 by pin hole 42 holds the lift-off top 10 against the legs 18 of desk section 5 and prevents an inadvertent separation thereof.

When it is desirable to separate or lift the top 10 off the legs 18 as shown in FIG. 7, an upward pushing force (in the direction of arrow 44 of FIG. 6) is applied to locking pin 40. Accordingly, the locking pin 40 will press against and compress an internal spring (not shown) so as to move inwardly of the pin hole 42 and the pin body 20 and slide out of its locking engagement with leg 18. The locking pin body 20 may now be pulled upwardly and out of its receipt by the hollow leg 18.

FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawings illustrate the fold-up nature of the collapsible frame 16 of the desk section 5 of modular desk 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2. Although these forthcoming descriptions relate specifically to the collapsible frame 16 of desk end section 5, the same description is also applicable the collapsible frame of the desk section 3.

As was earlier disclosed, the collapsible frame 16 includes (for example) a single front guide rail 22, a set of three rear guide rails 24, and pairs of fold-up end panels 32 and 34 extending between the front and rear guide rails 22 and 24. Each of the opposing pairs of fold-up end panels 32 and 34 is pivotally connected together at the hinge 35 to permit the pairs of end panels 32 and 34 to be rotated at hinge 35 so that frame 16 can be converted to either an expanded frame configuration (of FIG. 9) when desk section 5 is assembled for use or a collapsed frame configuration (of FIG. 10) when desk section 5 is to be disassembled for transport or storage.

To facilitate the compact, fold-up nature of the collapsible frame 16, each one of the fold-up end panels 32 and 34 is pivotally connected to a tail member 48 and 50 by means of a hinge 52 and 54. Each tail member 48 and 50 is connected to one of the front or rear guide rails 22 and 24.

When it is desirable to convert the collapsible frame 16 of the desk section 5 from the expanded to the collapsed configuration of FIG. 5, the lift-off top 10 is first separated from frame 16 in the manner earlier described while referring to FIGS. 6-8. Any modular drawer (e.g., 26) that is hung upon the front and rear guide rails 22 and 24 is lifted up and out of frame 16. Next, the earlier described clips 36 (to be disclosed in greater detail next when referring to FIGS. 11 and 12) are pulled off the fold-up end panels 32 and 34. Opposing, inwardly directed pushing or compressive forces are then applied to the hinges 35 between each pair of fold-up end panels 32 and 34.

Accordingly, each pair of end panels 32 and 34 will fold inwardly from their end-to-end alignment in the expanded frame configuration in response to the aforementioned inward pushing forces, whereby the front guide rail 22 and the rear guide rails 24 are moved towards one another. That is to say, a first of the pair of end panels 32 rotates simultaneously around hinges 35 and 52. The second of the pair of end panels 34 rotates simultaneously around hinges 35 and 54. By virtue of the foregoing, the width of desk section 5 can be quickly and easily reduced to establish a compact subassembly in the collapsed frame configuration to be loaded into a correspondingly compact shipping container. Of course, by reversing the steps herein described, collapsible frame 16 can be converted from the collapsed frame configuration of FIG. 10 to the expanded frame configuration of FIG. 9 so that the lift-off top 10 can be mounted thereon.

Details of the rigid (e.g. metallic) clips 36 to which reference was previously made are now provided while referring to FIGS. 11 and 12 of the drawings. As was earlier disclosed, each clip 36 is sized so as to be positioned between a pair of fold-up end panels 32 and 34 that are pivotally connected together by means of hinge 35. As was also earlier pointed out, each clip 36 has a pair of fold-over hooks 38 to enable clips 36 to be removably attached to end panels 32 and 34 to prevent a rotation thereof at the hinge 35.

In particular, with the collapsible frame 16 in the expanded frame configuration (of FIG. 9) and a ridged clip 36 moved into engagement with a pair of end panels 32 and 34 that are aligned end-to-end, the end panels will be blocked from rotating towards one another so that the collapsible frame 16 is locked in the expanded frame configuration. However, when it is otherwise desirable to convert the collapsible frame 16 to the collapsed frame configuration (of FIG. 10), the clips 26 are removed from the opposing pairs of fold-up end panels 32 and 34. In this case, the end panels 34 and 36 will now be free to rotate out of their end-to-end alignment and towards one another at hinges 35, 52 and 54 to enable the frame 16 to achieve the collapsed frame configuration.

FIGS. 13 and 14 of the drawings show details of the mid section 7 of the modular desk 1 which is connected to and between the adjacent desk end sections 3 and 5 in the manner shown in FIG. 2. A single guide rail 58 (of FIG. 14) is located at the front of mid section 7, and a set of three guide rails 60 (of FIG. 13) that are spaced one above the other is located at the rear of mid section 7. The precise number of front and rear guide rails 58 and 60 is chosen for aesthetic purposes and to correspond with the number of front and rear guide rails which form desk sections 3 and 5. It may be appreciated that the front guide rail 58 is independent of the rear guide rails 60.

In this same regard, each of the front and rear guide rails 58 and 60 of desk mid section 7 has an arcuate shape to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the modular desk 1 following assembly. Studs 12 project upwardly from the single front guide rail 58 and the top-most rear guide rail 60 to receive and support the lift-off desk top 11 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Lift-off top 11 is arc shaped to reflect the arcuate shape of guide rails 58 and 60.

An end band 62 is affixed to each end of the front guide rail 58 of the mid section 7 of modular desk 1. Each end band 62 includes a coextensive retainment hook 64 projecting from the top thereof. An end band 66 is affixed to each end of the set of rear guide rails 60. Like end band 62, each end band 66 includes a coextensive retainment hook 68 projecting from the top thereof.

The single front guide rail 58 of FIG. 14 and the set of rear guide rails 60 of FIG. 13 are identically coupled to desk sections 3 and 5 to assemble mid section 7 and complete the modular desk 1. More particularly, and turning now to FIG. 15 of the drawings, each of the hollow legs 18 of each collapsible frame 16 from the desk end sections 3 and 5 of modular desk 1 has an outwardly facing recess 70 formed at the top thereof (also shown at FIGS. 2 and 3). Recess 70 is sized to removably receive therethrough the retaining hook 64 of the end band 62 of the front guide rail 58, whereby the front of mid section 7 is coupled to a front leg 18 of desk section 3 (as shown in FIG. 15) and to a front leg of desk section 5 (not shown). The recess 70 is also sized to removably receive the retaining hook 68 of the end band 66 of the set of rear guide rails 60, whereby the rear of mid section 7 is coupled to respective rear legs of desk sections 3 and 5 (not shown). Accordingly, with opposing pairs of retaining hooks 64 of the front guide rail 58 and opposing pairs of retaining hooks 60 of the rear guide rails 60 moved through recesses 70 in respective pairs of front and rear legs 18, the desk mid section 7 (of FIG. 2) of modular desk 1 is connected between desk end sections 3 and 5 to support lift-off top 11.

When it is desirable to disassemble the modular desk 1, the lift-off top 11 is first removed from mid section 7. The retainment hooks 64 and 68 from end bands 62 and 66 are then withdrawn from recesses 70 and separated from respective ones of the front and rear legs 18 of desk sections 3 and 5. The front guide rail 58 (of FIG. 14) and the set of rear guide rails 60 (of FIG. 13) are now free of desk assembly 1 so that each of the collapsible frames 16 of the remaining desk sections 3 and 5 can be converted to the collapsed frame configuration in the manner previously described.

It may be appreciated that the modular desk I herein disclosed may be conveniently assembled and disassembled without the use of traditional tools or the need for traditional desk fasteners (e.g., nuts, bolts, screws, etc.). Moreover, relatively small amounts of labor and skill are required to assemble and disassemble the desk 1. What is even more, only minimal manpower (typically two people) is required to maneuver the modular components to assemble the desk 1. 

1. A desk assembly including at least one desk section, comprising: a desk top; a set of legs; and a frame supported by said set of legs, said frame having a front and a rear, said frame being collapsible such that said front and said rear are moved towards one another, whereby to reduce the width of said frame for storage or transport.
 2. The desk assembly recited in claim 1, wherein said desk top is detachably connected to said set of legs so as to lie above said frame.
 3. The desk assembly recited in claim 2, wherein said set of legs are hollow, said desk top detachably connected to said set of legs at the hollow interior thereof.
 4. The desk assembly recited in claim 3, further comprising a set of locking pin bodies carried by said desk top, each locking pin body having a locking pin, said set of locking pin bodies being removably received within respective ones of said set of hollow legs, and the locking pins of said locking pin bodies moving into releasable locking engagement with said set of hollow legs, whereby said desk top is detachably connected to said set of legs.
 5. The desk assembly recited in claim 4, wherein each of said set of hollow legs has a pin hole formed therein, the locking pins of said locking pin bodies moving through respective ones of said pin holes and into said releasable locking engagement with said set of legs, whereby said desk top is detachably connected to said set of legs.
 6. The desk assembly recited in claim 1, wherein said frame also has first and second pairs of end panels spaced from one another and extending between the front and the rear of said frame, one end panel from each pair of end panels being movable relative to the other end panel to cause said frame to collapse such that said front and said rear are moved towards one another.
 7. The desk assembly recited in claim 6, wherein the one and the other end panels from each pair of end panels are coupled together at a first hinge so as to be rotatable at said hinge and moved towards one another, whereby to correspondingly cause the front and the rear of said frame to be moved towards one another.
 8. The desk assembly recited in claim 7, further comprising a removable locking clip extending across said first hinge and between the said one and the said other end panels, said rigid locking clip blocking said end panels from rotating at said first hinge and thereby preventing the front and the rear of said frame from being moved towards one another.
 9. The desk assembly recited in claim 8, wherein said removable locking clip has first and second hooks, the first hook folding over the said one end panel and the second hook folding over the said other end panel, such that said locking clip extends across said first hinge and between the said one and the said other end panels.
 10. The desk assembly recited in claim 7, wherein the said one end panel from each pair of end panels is pivotally connected to one of said set of legs by means of a second hinge, and the said other end panel from each pair thereof pivotally connected to a different one of said set of legs by means of a third hinge.
 11. The desk assembly recited in claim 1, wherein the front of said frame includes at least one guide rail located between a first pair of legs from said set of legs, and the rear of said frame includes at least one guide rail located between a different pair of legs from said set of legs, said desk assembly further comprising a removable drawer suspended from said at least one guide rail of the front and said at least one guide rail of the rear.
 12. The desk assembly recited in claim 11, wherein said removable drawer has at least first and second suspension hooks, the first suspension hook folding over and being slidable along the said at least one guide rail of the front of said frame, and the second suspension hook folding over and being slidable along the said at least one guide rail of the rear of said frame, whereby said removable drawer is suspended from the said at least one guide rails.
 13. A desk assembly, comprising: a first end section having a first top, a first set of legs, and a first frame supported by said first set of legs; a second end section having a second top, a second set of legs, and a second frame supported by said second set of legs; and a middle section having a third top and a third frame, the third frame of said middle section being detachably connected to and between each of said first and second end sections.
 14. The desk assembly recited in claim 13, wherein the third frame of said middle section is detachably connected to said first end section at the first set of legs thereof and to said second end section at the second set of legs thereof.
 15. The desk assembly recited in claim 13, wherein the third frame of said middle section has at least one retainment hook located at a first end thereof and at least one retainment hook located at the opposite end, the said at least one retainment hook of each of said first and opposite ends folding over portions of said first and second end sections, whereby said third frame is suspended by and between each of said first and second end sections.
 16. The desk assembly recited in claim 15, wherein at least one leg of the first set of legs from said first end section and at least one leg of the second set of legs from said second end section have openings formed therein, said at least one retainment hook at each of the first and the opposite ends of the third frame of said middle section being folded over and coupled to respective legs of said first and second sets of legs by way of the openings formed therein.
 17. The desk assembly recited in claim 13, wherein said middle section has a front and a rear that are detached from one another, each of said front and said rear including at least one guide rail, and each of the said at least one guide rail of said front and said rear carrying a retainment hook at opposite ends thereof, the retainment hooks at first ends of the guide rails of each of said front and said rear being respectively coupled to first and second legs from the first set of legs of said first end section, and the retainment hooks at the opposite ends of the guide rails of each of said front and said rear being respectively coupled to first and second legs from the second set of legs of said second end section.
 18. The desk assembly recited in claim 13, wherein the first top of said first end section is detachably connected to said first set of legs, the second top of said second end section is detachably connected to said second set of legs, and the third top of said middle section is seated upon said third frame so as to lie between said first and second tops.
 19. The desk assembly recited in claim 13, wherein each of the first frame of said first end section and the second frame of said second end section has a front and a rear, said first and second frames being collapsible, such that the respective fronts and the rears thereof are moved towards one another, whereby to reduce the width of said first and second frames for storage or transport.
 20. The desk assembly recited in claim 19, including first and second pairs of folding end panels extending between the front and the rear of the first frame of said first end section, and first and second pairs of folding end panels extending between the front and the rear of the second frame of said second end section, each of said pairs of folding end panels having a first end panel pivotally connected to and rotatable towards a second end panel. 